Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch photography guide

Hythe

The platforms provide decent shots, usually better from platform 3 than 2. Photographing engines on the turntable is tricky as is under the roof in winter for reasons of obstruction and light respectively

Platform 3 looking toward Romney

Platform 3 with a train departing from platform 3

Under the roof at Hythe


Botolph's Bridge road level crossing

The obvious angles are looking either way from the small vehicle entrance to the lake (rarely used and a handy place to park) , although other angles can be obtained by walking up the road over the crossing and looking down toward the sea along the channel for the railway bridge

Looking toward Hythe

Looking toward Romney

Looking over the bridge


Burmarsh Road level crossing

The line here runs through a small wooded section on the Hythe side and starts to hit the outskirts of Dymchurch. There is a handy pull in for one or two cars, or park in the local estates. Easy shots both ways

Looking toward Hythe (seaward side)

Looking toward Hythe (landward side)

Looking toward Romney (seaward side)

Looking toward Romney (landward side)


New Romney station

The headquarters of the line its home to the carriage and engine sheds as well as the main offices. Plenty of opportunities for photography around the station

A train in the bay platform

A train arriving from Hythe

From the ramp of the bridge


Dungeness

The large expanse of shingle is fully accessible, even the middle of the loopp, so copious photo ops to be had here, although the weather can be a bit iffy and the wind strong (although you should get away without the third eye and tentacles)

A train in the loop

Arriving from Romney

A train in the platform

 

Hythe turntable

I've never had a problem taking a picture of the turntable, you just need to be on the platform nearest it, as close to the signalbox as possible, and it's best in late afternoon when the sun's in the west.

Hythe turntable

Burmarsh Road

Head north over the crossing and there's a concrete track on the right at the end of the houses which takes you back to the lineside, where there's an occupation crossing to reach the other (south) side of the track.

Looking towards Dymchurch

Looking towards Hythe


Dymchurch area

Fehr's Bank occupation crossing, approached from a track which runs alongside Youngs builder's merchants on Hythe Road, Dymchurch. There are some nice open fields for background there and a short but sharp climb to make east-bound trains work a bit harder.

Looking towards Dymchurch

Looking towards Hythe

 

Firs crossing (i think) timbgray might like to correct me if im wrong, my route knowledge has slipped a little of late ](*,)

 

Re:

Rule 1 is wrong this time James #-o

The crossing in question is: Occupation crossing no.10, Knoll View occupation crossing
and the builders merchants in question is called Youngs

 

Re: Re:

Rule 1 is maintained.

I have it on good authority that the crossing is called "Fehr's Bank" which, now that I come to think of it, is what appeared on a railway notice by the crossing castigating users for not closing the gates.

 

Britannia Points

Located at the end of the loop at Dungeness, this is where the two sides connect. Good views of trains in both directions and at special event weekends the place where trains cross

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p43202391.html

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p43202390.html

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p43202392.html


New Romney

Good views can be obtained of trains from the small grass area just on the hythe side of the signal box. Also the footbridge at the Dungeness end of the station can be used for shots of trains in the platforms and leaving for Dungeness. Teains arriving from Hythe can also be framed by the signals at the eastern end.

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http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p43202402.html

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p43202403.html

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p43202420.html

 

Littlestone-on-Sea

Leaving New Romney station go straight accross the road (or take the road opposite the station entrance if going by car, theres usually plenty of parking on the roadside down there) and you reach the sight of Littlestone-on-Sea station, where the double track becomes single. Good views can be had of trains leaving Romney (plus plenty of warning as the trains leave the station). Go up onto the slight grassy rise at the end of the cutting for the best views IMHO

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p44539461.html


The Pilot

There are a few photo opportuinites from here. Coming from the Romney direction (past the Pilot Inn) turn into the road on the right (Pleasance North Road I believe its called) and there is a small amount of parking. From here you can walk onto the shingle at the Romney end of the road for clear views around the former Lade Halt area, or back toward the pub to the level crossing

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p44539462.html

Alternatively, take the road toward Dungeness and pull in (there is space on the left as you come toward Dungeness) just beyond the Level Crossing. At the moment there are no barriers so there is a good view of the trains on the crossing as well as in both directions (taking into account road traffic)

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p44539463.html


St Mary's Bay

This quiet station is good for photography if you don't like to be interrupted by road traffic or indeed many people. By car, it is located on Jefferson Lane on the western edge of Dymchurch, plenty of parking. By train, most trains stop there so just hop out. The station in itself is photogenic

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p44539468.html

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p44539465.html

And good views can be had of trains crossing the road as there are no barriers (yet)

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p44539467.html


Dymchurch

From the station, turn left, then left again, cross the railway on the crossing and turn left onto the bridge over the dyke about 20 yards up the road. By car, there is a pull-in next to the bridge, from the roundabout in Dymchurch town centre turn toward the station, then take the right fork over the level crossing and pull in on the right. Good views over the bridge, but there is not a lot of warning for trains from Hythe (and non-stop trains from Romney)

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p44539460.html

 

Re: Re:

I'd love to know where you got your information from, as mine came from the RH&DR Route Plan, which was published in the RH&DRA's Marshlander Magazine a few years back, Also seems strange that i hold a current RH&DR Drivers Competency card enabling me to drive both steam and diesel, do you???

 

Having now got a copy of the route plan (which I dint have handy when I originally posted) I just want to add slightly to this, (The Embankment) is Fehrs Bank which is what confused me, but Tim is right of course it is Ocupation Xing 10 (Knoll View) with the access from Youngs Builders merchant. I have heard the crossing been reffered to as 'Youngs crossing', but the offical name is Knoll View / Xing 10.

JR

 

Re: Re:

No I don't, but the driver of my acquaintance who called it Fehr's Bank crossing certainly does. And a notice on RH&DR paper displayed at the crossing, berating users for not closing the gates and threatening to close the crossing if it continued, also referred to it as Fehr's Bank crossing.

 

Re: Re:

Well why not PM me your email address and i'l send you the route plan, as JR said the embankment is Fehr's Bank and the crossing is Knoll View